Package containing a snack of a cured food product

ABSTRACT

Package which comprises a wrapper ( 2 ) and a predetermined quantity of a cured food product, the wrapper ( 2 ) comprising two flexible laminates ( 2   a,    2   b ) of plastic placed on opposing sides of the cured food product next to each other and joined together at marginal regions ( 5 ) around the cured food product arranged forming an elongated strip with an average thickness (G) and an average width (A), being said average thickness (G) at least 20% of said average width (A); and the wrapper ( 2 ) includes an easy-opening device ( 4 ) in an adjacent position to an end to provide, when tearing it, an open end ( 6 ) through which the portions of the cured food product are gradually extracted by a pressure exerted manually over a region of the wrapper ( 2 ) adjacent to an end opposite said open end ( 6 ).

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Spanish application No. 201730071 filed 26 Jan. 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns, in general, a package containing a snack of a cured food product and specifically a snack including an individual ration with portions of a cured food product vacuum packed in a wrapper made from a sheet of plastic material. The cured food product can comprise, for example, blocks or shavings of cured ham, blocks of cold meats, and blocks of cheese, among others, preferably said cured food products have a high content of fats or oils, or they have been macerated in fats or oils.

STATE OF THE ART

The commercialization of quantities corresponding to multiple rations of portions of cured food products which are vacuum-packed in a wrapped package made up of a flexible sheet of a plastic material optionally equipped with an easy-opening device, which has the advantage of preserving the portions of the cured food product in optimal conditions of conservation, is a well-known fact. However, an inconvenience of this presentation is that once the wrapper of the package has been opened, the multiple rations of portions of the cured food product contained in said package must be consumed in a short period of time to avoid their deterioration. Another inconvenience resides in the difficulty of extracting the portions of the cured food product from the inside of the package without staining our hands with grease from the own cured food product, due to the fact that the multiple rations are arranged in a flat manner and extending along the package, which forces fingers to be introduced in the package or tear the wrapper of the package completely to gain access to the portions of the cured food product.

The commercialization of individual rations of portions of a cured food product arranged in an open upper face cone for immediate consumption, is also a well-known fact, but it has the inconvenience of an unsafe transport due to possible spilling of the product form the cone, a high difficulty for obtaining mid or long term conservation due to exposure of the food product to the surrounding air, and a high probability of staining fingers with grease from the cured food product due to the fact that the cone is arranged in such a manner that the portions of the cured food product must be picked with hands for their consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contributes to mitigating the previously cited and other inconveniences by providing a package containing a snack of a cured food product which comprises a wrapper containing an individual ration of portions of the cured food product, wherein the wrapper comprises two flexible laminates, made of a plastic material, placed on opposing sides of the individual ration of portions of the cured food product, the two laminates being next to each other and joined together at marginal regions around an air-tight container which contains the individual ration of portions of the cured food product. The wrapper further comprising, an easy-opening device through which the wrapper is susceptible of being torn manually.

Orientatively, an individual ration of portions of the cured food product is a quantity comprised between 25 and 40 grams apt for representing one single consumption which can be ingested by only one user at one go, relevant to large sized package provided for commercialization in food establishments or consumer areas. Other possible individual ration smaller sizes of portions of the cured food product have been contemplated for a more sporadically consumption with a satiating end, for example a medium individual ration comprising between 12 and 25 grams, corresponding to a smaller sized packet for example to commercialize in vending machines, or for example a small individual ration comprising between 5 and 12 grams, which can be supplied in trains or planes, or easily carried around for consumption at any moment.

The portions of the cured food product that constitute an individual ration are arranged in the wrapper forming an elongated strip which has an average thickness and an average width.

The average thickness measures 20% or more of said average width. By way of a mere illustrative example, for an elongated strip of the cured food product that would have an average width of 20 mm, the average thickness would be 4 mm or bigger, and more preferably it would be 6 mm or more. This doesn't exclude that the thickness may be the same or larger than the width.

Preferably the air-tight container that contains the individual ration of the portions of the cured food product will have an average width comprised between 15 mm and 40 mm, as long as said width can be covered when applying pressure with just the fingertips of two fingers one against the other with the air-tight container placed between them.

Being the proportions and dimensions of the width and thickness of the elongated strip of the portions of the cured food product limited by the present invention, the different sizes of the individual rations previously stated therefore correspond to different lengths of the package.

Therefore the proposed package allows the size to adapt to the individual ration contained in its interior modifying the length of the package.

For example, the large individual ration may be contained in an air-tight container of a width of 3 cm by a length of 25 cm, being therefore the average width of the elongated strip of the cured food product equal or more than 6 mm. The medium individual ration may be contained in an air-tight container of for example a width of 2.5 cm by a length of 16 cm, being therefore the average width of the elongated strip of the cured food product equal or more than 5 mm. Finally the small individual ration may be contained in an air-tight container of for example a width of 2.5 cm by a length of 8 cm, being therefore the average width of the elongated strip of the cured food product equal or more than 5 mm.

The easy-opening device is placed on the wrapper in a position adjacent to one end of the wrapper or in which the elongated strip of cured food product is contained by the individual ration of portions of the cured food product.

Thus, when the wrapper is torn via the easy-opening device, the container is provided with an open end and the portions of the cured food product which constitute said individual ration can be gradually extracted by a pressure exerted manually over a region of the wrapper adjacent to an end of the individual ration opposed to the open end of the container, without risk of staining or dirtying fingers with the grease from the own cured food product.

This is as much because the container with the open end acts as a conduct lubricated by the own grease of the cured food product, and the pressure exerted manually over he wrapper combined with the relatively large thickness in relation to the width of the elongated strip pushes the portions of the curated food product towards the open end sliding along the inside of the container. The portions of the cured food product can then be placed directly in the mouth as they exit the container or extracted onto a plate or similar object.

An inferior thickness of the elongated strip of the cured food product would difficult the slide effect inside the conduct formed by the package, and would require a larger pressure to obtain the slide effect, resulting unfeasible.

The package containing a snack of a cured food product comprises, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, an additional air-tight container independent and adjacent to the air-tight container which contains the elongated strip of cured food product, being both air-tight containers defined in a same wrapper, in between the two flexible laminates, but separated by a sealing line.

Said easy-opening device will be arranged in the wrapper in an adjacent position to an end of said additional air-tight container to provide, when the wrapper is torn via the easy-opening device, an open end to the additional air-tight container. This allows that with only one tearing maneuver access is gained to both the air-tight container as well as the additional air-tight container, allowing the consumption of its contents in parallel or simultaneously through the same end of the package.

In the interior of the additional air-tight container an additional food product may be included, being yet another elongated strip of a cured food product, or preferably a complementary product such as a cereal based elongated strip product.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention said additional air-tight container will contain one or several elongated short strips of bread, toasted bread, biscuits or rusks.

It is also proposed in an additional or alternative manner to incorporate an auxiliary skewer superimposed and joined to one of said marginal regions of the wrapper in a parallel position to the elongated strip made up of the individual ration of portions of the cured food product. The skewer, which is preferably made of wood, has a sharp end. Thus, in case the portions of the cured food product are extracted from the wrapping onto a plate or similar object, the skewer can be used to pierce the portions of the cured food product without risk of dirtying fingers.

Preferably, the individual ration of the cured food product is vacuum packed in the wrapper. In one embodiment, the two laminates that form the wrapper are obtained by squashing a tube made of a sheet of plastic material, being said plastic material preferably transparent.

The skewer is attached to the wrapper, for example, by means of a label adhered to the skewer and the wrapper. The label is preferably auto-adhesive. In one embodiment, the label is superimposed on the skewer and surrounds the wrapper forming a band. Preferably the label has printed graphic and/or written information.

In one embodiment, the skewer has an adjacent portion to the sharp end which extends further than an end of the wrapper, said sharp end of the skewer being insertable in a hole selected from a plurality of holes formed on a support panel of an exhibitor to support the package containing a snack of a cured food product in an upright position on said exhibitor.

For example, the exhibitor may comprise a base panel to lean on a support surface and a vertical rear panel preferably provided with printed graphic and/or written information, as well as the mentioned support panel provided with holes. For example, the rear vertical panel may be connected to a rear end of the base panel, and the mentioned support panel can be arranged in a position slightly reclined superimposed on the base panel, connected to a front end of the base panel and leaning against or nestled against the rear vertical panel.

Thus, when the sharp ends of the skewer are inserted in the holes of the base panel of the exhibitor, the wrappers of the packages containing a snack of the cured food product are arranged as banderoles with the labels clearly visible in front of a vertical rear-panel of the exhibitor.

In one embodiment, the easy-opening device comprises an indentation formed at a corner of one of the marginal regions of the wrapper, in a position adjacent to an end of said elongated strip made up of the individual ration. Alternatively or additionally, the easy-opening device comprises a weakened line formed on the wrapper, in a position adjacent to an end of the elongated strip formed by the individual ration.

The cured food product is selected from a group comprising, for example: blocks or shavings of cured ham, preferably Iberian bellota ham; blocks from a combination of Iberian cold meats selected from Iberian pork-loin log, presa, chorizo, morcon and pepperoni; and blocks from a combination of cheeses selected from semi-cured cheese, cured cheese and very valuated cheese.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, to be taken in an illustrative and not limitative manner, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a package containing a snack of a cured food product according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the package containing a snack of a cured food product of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a package containing a snack of a cured food product according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of several of the packages containing a snack of the cured food product of FIG. 3 arranged on an exhibitor;

FIG. 5 is a front view which illustrates a package containing a snack of a cured food product being extracted from the wrapper for its consumption;

FIG. 6 is a front view which illustrates the package containing a snack of a cured food product in an air-tight container, according to one alternative embodiment in which the package further includes an additional air-tight container parallel to the air-tight container containing the cured food product;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show the same package as seen in FIG. 6 but with smaller lengths, containing lesser quantities of the food product, corresponding to a size adapted for vending machines, and to a size adapted for their distribution on planes or trains.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

In first place, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numerical reference 1 designates a package containing a snack of a cured food product according to an embodiment of the present invention, which comprises an individual ration 3 of portions of the cured food product enclosed in an air-tight container defined by a wrapper 2 including two flexibles laminates 2 a, 2 b (FIG. 2) made of a transparent plastic material, situated on opposing sides of the individual ration 3.

The individual ration 3 includes, for example, 25 to 40 grams of portions of the cured food product selected from a group which comprises blocks or shavings of cured ham, blocks of a combination of Iberian cold meats selected from Iberian pork-loin log, presa, chorizo, morcon and pepperoni, and blocks from a combination of cheeses selected from semi-cured cheese, cured cheese and very valuated cheese.

The two laminates 2 a, 2 b are obtained for example from a squashed tube made from a sheet of plastic material and which are next to each other and joined together at marginal regions 5 around container which contains the individual ration 3. Preferably, the individual ration 3 of portions of the cured food product is vacuum packed in the wrapper 2.

The portions of the cured food product which constitute the individual ration 3 are arranged in the wrapper 2 forming an elongated strip, which has an average width A (FIG. 1) and an average thickness G (FIG. 2). The average thickness G is relatively large in relation to the average width A. Preferably, the average thickness G is 30% or more of the average width A.

The wrapper 2 further comprises an easy-opening device 4 including an indentation formed at a corner of one of the marginal regions 5 of the wrapper 2, in a position adjacent to an end of the container which contains the elongated strip made up of the individual ration 3 in the wrapper 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the wrapper 2 can be torn manually via the easy-opening device 4 to provide an open end 6 for the container where the individual ration 3 is contained, and the portions of the cured food product that constitute the individual ration 3 can be extracted gradually from the container through the open end 6 by exerting a pressure manually over a region of the wrapper 2 adjacent to an end of the individual ration 3 opposite the open end 6 without risk of dirtying fingers with grease from the cured food product.

Thus, the container, when provided with the open end 6, acts as a conduct lubricated by the own grease of the cured food product, and the pressure exerted manually over the wrapper 2 combined with the average thickness G relatively larger in relation to the average width A of the individual ration 3 makes the portions of the cured food product that constitute the individual ration 3, slide along the interior of the container towards the open end 6, and gradually exit the wrapper 2 through the open end 6. The portions of the cured food product can be taken directly with the mouth as they exit the container of the wrapper 2 or can be extracted onto a plate or similar object.

FIG. 3 discloses another possible embodiment of the package containing a snack of a cured food product 1 of the present invention, which includes an individual ration 3 of portions of the cured food product enclosed in an air-tight container defined by a wrapper 2, and an auxiliary skewer 7 which has a sharp end 7 a, wherein the wrapper 2 and the individual ration 3 have identical configuration and disposition as the one described previously in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The skewer 7 is superimposed to one of said marginal regions 5 of the wrapper 2 in a parallel position to the elongated strip made up of the individual ration 3, and is attached to the wrapper 2 by means of a label 8 adhered to the skewer 7 and the wrapper 2. More specifically, the label 8 is an auto-adhesive label which is superimposed on the skewer 7 and surrounds the wrapper 2 forming a band. The label 8 has an exterior surface apt for including graphic and/or written information.

By breaking the label 8, the skewer 7 is liberated and can be used to pierce the portions of the cured food product which constitute the individual ration 3 and put them directly in the mouth when the portions have been extracted onto a plate or similar object, allowing with their consumption without dirtying fingers with grease from the own cured food product.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the skewer 7 has a portion adjacent to the sharp end 7 a which extends from an end of the wrapper 2, preferably from the end opposite the easy-opening device 4. When the skewer 7 is attached to the wrapper 2, the sharp end 7 a of the skewer 7 can be insertable in a hole 14 selected from a plurality of holes 14 formed on a support panel 11 of an exhibitor 10 (FIG. 4) to support the package containing a snack of a cured food product 1 in an upright position on said exhibitor 10.

The exhibitor 10 shown in FIG. 4 comprises, as well as the support 11, a base panel 12 and a vertical rear panel 13 made with only one piece of corrugated cardboard. The support panel 11, the base panel 12 and the vertical rear panel 13 are connected between them by crease lines 15 which constitute hinges, which means the exhibitor 10 is foldable by said crease lines 15 from a working position to a compact position.

The base panel 12 is provided to lean on a support surface, such as a counter, a desk, etc. The vertical rear panel 13 has forward and rear surfaces which have printed graphic and/or written information, and in the working position it is connected perpendicularly to a rear end of the base panel 12. In the working position, the support panel 11 is arranged in a slightly inclined over the base panel 12, and has a first end connected to a forward end of the base panel 12 and a second end reclined against vertical rear panel 13. Protruding parts 16 extend from an edge of the support panel 11 corresponding to the second end, which are inserted in openings 17 formed on the vertical rear panel 13. It must be taken into account, however, that the configuration and disposition of the exhibitor 10 is variable.

The holes 14 are arranged on the support panel 11 according to a matrix of 10×11 making a total of 110 holes 14 to sustain up to 110 packages containing a snack of a cured food product 1. Obviously, the number and disposition of the holes 14 can also vary.

On the exhibitor 10, the wrapper 2 of the package containing a snack of a cured food product 1 is arranged as a banderole and with the labels 8 clearly visible in front of the vertical rear panel 13 of the exhibitor 10 when the sharp ends 7 a of the skewer 7 are inserted in the holes 14 of the support panel 11 of the exhibitor 10. The packages containing a snack of a cured food product 1 can be easily removed from the exhibitor 10 by simply pulling them upwards. Thus, in a selling point, a client can select for themselves one or more packages containing a snack of a cured food product 1 from the exhibitor 10 and then pay for them at the cash desk.

According to an additional embodiment shown in FIG. 6 it is proposed that, together and parallel with the air-tight container 20 which contains the cured food product an additional air-tight container 21 be disposed and integrated in the same wrapper 2 and obtained from the union at the marginal regions 5 of the same two flexible laminates 2 a, 2 b that contain the cured food product, and both air-tight containers 20, 21 are separated by a sealed line 22.

The additional air-tight container 21 can contain, according to the present embodiment, a set of rusks in the shape of small breadsticks arranged aligned with each other inside the additional air-tight container 21 forming a strip of an additional food product.

The easy-opening device 4 placed next to an end of the additional air-tight container 20 which comprises the cured food product will also be placed next to an end of the additional air-tight container 21, such that the opening of the wrapper 2 using said easy-opening device 4, for example by means of tearing the wrapper 2, provides simultaneous access to both parallel air-tight containers 20 and 21, allowing the simultaneous or alternate consumption of the food products contained in either one or the other air-tight containers 20 and 21 from the same wrapper 2.

The scope of the present invention is defined by the following set of claims. 

1. Package containing a snack of a cured food product, comprising a wrapper (2) and a predetermined quantity of portions of the cured food product contained in said wrapper (2), wherein said cured food product is selected from a group comprising: blocks or shavings of cured ham; blocks from a combination of Iberian cold meats selected from Iberian pork-loin log, presa, chorizo, morcon and pepperoni; and blocks from a combination of cheeses selected from semi-cured cheese, cured cheese and very valuated cheese, the wrapper (2) comprising two flexible laminates (2 a, 2 b), made of a plastic material, situated on opposing sides of said predetermined quantity of portions of the cured food product, and said two laminates (2 a, 2 b) being next to each other and joined together at marginal regions (5) around an air-tight container (20) which contains the predetermined quantity of portions of the cured food product, and the wrapper (2) further comprising an easy-opening device (4) through which the wrapper is susceptible of being torn manually, characterized in that: the predetermined quantity of portions of the cured food product is an individual ration (3) of portions of the cured food product; the portions of the cured food product which constitute said individual ration (3) are disposed in the wrapper (2) forming an elongated strip which has an average thickness (G) and an average width (A), wherein said average thickness (G) is at least 20% of said average width (A); and said easy-opening device (4) is placed on the wrapper (2) in a position adjacent to one of the ends of said container to provide, when the wrapper (2) is torn via the easy-opening device (4), an open end (6) to the container through which the portions of the cured food product which constitute said individual ration (3) are gradually extracted by a pressure exerted manually over a region of the wrapper (2) adjacent to an end of the individual ration (3) opposed to the open end (6) of the container.
 2. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, wherein the individual ration (3) of portions of the cured food product is vacuum-packed in the wrapper (2).
 3. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1 wherein the two laminates (2 a, 2 b) which form the wrapper (2) are obtained from a squashed tube made from a sheet of plastic material.
 4. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1 wherein said plastic material is transparent.
 5. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary skewer (7) which has a sharp end (7 a), wherein said skewer (7) is superimposed and joined to one of said marginal regions (5) of the wrapper (2) in a parallel position to the elongated strip made up of the individual ration (3).
 6. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 5, wherein an adjacent portion to the sharp end (7 a) of the skewer (7) extends further than an end of the wrapper (2), said sharp end (7 a) of the skewer (7) being insertable in a hole (14) selected from a plurality of holes (14) formed on a support panel (11) of an exhibitor (10) to support the package containing a snack of a cured food product (1) in an upright position on said exhibitor (10).
 7. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 6, wherein the wrapper (2) of the package containing a snack of a cured food product (1) is arranged as a banderole in front of a vertical rear-panel (13) of the exhibitor (10) when the sharp end (7 a) of the skewer (7) is inserted in said hole (14) of the exhibitor (10).
 8. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 5, wherein the skewer (7) is attached to the wrapper (2) by means of a label (8) adhered to the skewer (7) and the wrapper (2).
 9. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 8, wherein said label (8) is superimposed on the skewer (7) and surrounds the wrapper (2) forming a band.
 10. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 8, wherein said label (8) is an auto-adhesive label.
 11. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, wherein said easy-opening device (4) comprises an indentation formed at a corner of one of the marginal regions (5) of the wrapper (2), in a position adjacent to an end of said elongated strip made up of the individual ration (3).
 12. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, wherein the average thickness (G) of the elongated strip made up of the individual portion (3) is at least 30% of the average width (A).
 13. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper (2) further includes an additional independent air-tight container (21) which contains an additional food product, said additional air-tight container (21) adjacent to the air-tight container (20) which contains the elongated strip of cured food product, both air-tight containers (20, 21) being defined in the same wrapper (2) in between the two flexible laminates (2 a, 2 b), next to each other and joined together at marginal regions (5), wherein both air-tight containers (20, 21) are separated by a sealed line (22).
 14. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 13, wherein said easy-opening device (4) is arranged in the wrapper (2) in an adjacent position to an end of said additional air-tight container (21) to provide, when the wrapper (2) is torn via the easy-opening device (4), an open end to the additional air-tight container (21).
 15. Package containing a snack of a cured food product according to claim 1, wherein the air-tight container (20) which contains an individual ration of the portions of the cured food product have an average width comprised between 15 mm and 40 mm. 